Container construction



Dec. 17, 1940. J. BUCKLEY CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 1 7, 1940. J. BUCKLEY CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w ikmv.

yW m/ 2504A dfzarfi y Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,224,949 1 CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION James Buckley, Providence,iR;-I. Application November 25, 1933, Serial No. 699,659

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to container constructions, and has particular reference to improvements in containers utilized for articles for personal use, such as for example vanity cases,

cigarette cases, and the like.

Vanity cases such as heretofore manufactured,

particularly when made with separate compartments for holding powder and rouge, have utilized compartment covers which require use of both hands in opening, and cannot usually be opened it the hand is gloved, as the finger or finger nail must unlatch the cover. It is the principal object of my invention to devise a cover construction for the lids or containers that 1 may be opened when the hand is gloved, and which does not require the use of both hands.

A further difficulty found in the use of containers having two or more compartments, each with its own cover, has resided in the necessity for opening each cover separately. It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel construction whereby a plurality of covers may be successively opened by the same operating or opening movement.

Another difficulty experienced by the user in opening personal containers such as vanity cases has resided in the customary provision of snap hooks or buttons, which must be engaged by the fingers or the finger nail of the user to open the container, and which project outside the surface of the container. It is another object of my invention to provide an opening device for the lid of a container which does not project from the surface of the container, and which instead may form part of the ornamentation thereof.

To this end, I have formed a container construction with a plurality of compartments each provided with an individual cover, and I have devised a novel opening device which is operated by pressure of a finger or thumb to selectively and successively open the covers of the separate compartments. 7

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment, the outer cover being in open position and parts being broken away;

5 Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the illustrative container, the outer cover being in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the container as shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container 5 base, the two covers being broken away to show the lower compartment;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner cover, which contains theupper compartment;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the containers, the outer 10 cover being in open position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the inner cover in open position;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detail view, partly broken away, 1 showing the latch elements in catch engaging position;

Fig. 10 is a view similarto Fig. 9, showing the positions assumed by the parts for releasing the first catch; 20

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Figs. 9 and 10 showing both latches in catch releasing position;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the front latch 25 member, showing its rear guiding groove; and r Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the rear latch member.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the principles of my invention as applied to a two compartment vanity case, the vanity case includes a base 20, an upper cover 2| and an intermediate plate 23 which has a second cover 24. The base 20 and its cover 2| are hingedly connected together by a standard hinge construe- 5 tion 25, and the intermediate plate is formed with two spacedhinge ears '26 adapted to be aligned with the hinge 25 for receiving the common hinge pin 21, whereby the intermediate plate, the outer cover and the base are all hinged to- 40 gether. The base 20, see Fig.8, is provided with spaced openings 28 at the forward end thereof, adapted to receive cooperating fingers or teeth 29 secured to the intermediate plate 23, the insertion of the spaced teeth 29 in the spaced openings 28 and the engagement of the spaced hinge ears 26 with the common hinge pm as shown in Fig. 1 permanently locking the intermediate plate to the base. The interior of the cover 2| may be polished to function as a mirror or a mirror may be secured thereto.

The outer cover 2| is provided with a catch member 30, and the inner cover 24 is provided with a similar catch member 3|, the inner cover being smaller than the outer cover so that the latch member 3| is positioned rearwardly of the latch member 30 when both covers are in closed position. The forward part of the intermediate plate 23 is shaped to provide a housing chamber 32 in which the latch mechanism is housed, this latch mechanism being illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14. As shown in these figures, a rear latch member 33 is provided, see Fig. 14, having a forward tongue 34, an intermediate abutment and guide section 35, a rear spring contact section 36, and an upwardly extending latch finger 31, the rear latch member 33 being slidably mounted on a holder plate 38, see Fig. 9, between two spaced lugs 39 struck up from the holder plate and engaging the sides of the guide portion 35; the holder plate is formed with intermediate vertical walls 40 which are provided at the rear thereof with suitable openings for receiving a spring wire 4|, this spring wire engaging the back of the spring contactsection 36 for normally urging the rear latch member forwardly.

A front latch 42 is provided, see Fig. 13, with a forward cam portion 43, a rear latch finger 44, and a bottom groove 45, whereby the forward latch member may be mounted over the rear latch member 33 for sliding movement thereon. The forward cam portion 43 which extends upwardly as shown, has a groove 46 formed at the rear thereof for receiving a second spring wire 41 which has its ends housed in suitable openings in the walls 40, and normally urges the forward latch member forwardly. The plate 38 has two side portions or wings 41a. extending from the vertical walls, for soldering to the rear of the housing 32, the spaced fingers 29 heretofore mentioned being preferably formed or struck up from these side portions. Before the plate 38 is soldered to'the back of the intermediate plate 32 the latch operating member is first inserted therebetween, this latch operating member comprising a plate 48 having a cam engaging surface 49 on the lower face thereof and a pressure plate 50 on the upper face thereof, the pressure plate projecting upwardly into finger engageable position through an opening provided in the upper face of the housing 32.

Although the compartments may be made of any desired shape, the particular embodiment illustrated includes a compartment 52 formed in the intermediate plate 23, as by stamping, for receiving powder and a powder pufi" 53, see Fig. l, and the lower cover 24 is preferabl formed with a forward compartment 54 and a rear circular opening 55; the opening 55 has a vertical flange 56, and is adapted to'receive a circular rouge box 5'5, the flange 55 being provided with locking retainers or snaps 58 to hold the rouge box, in position. The rouge box is preferably held at an angle to the lower cover, as indicated in Fig. 8, so that the forward edge of the rouge box projects over the compartment 54, whereby a rouge pad 59 may be seated in the compartment 54 with its rear end caught under the rouge box for better retaining the rouge pad in place.

The operation of the novel cover release mechanism may now be explained: 7

Referring to Fig. 12, the cam engaging surface 49 is normally in engagement with the cam 43v of the forward latch member; a downward pressure by the finger of the user on the pressure plate 50 forces the forward catch member rear-' wardly against the pressure of the spring 41 and releases the locking engagement of the catch member 30 with the latch finger 44, thus permitting the outer cover 2| to open. If desired, the opening movement may be assisted by suitable spring means of standard construction, but it has been found in practice that the cover will spring open when properly shaped. A further downward movement of the pressure plate 5!) moves the forward latch member rearwardly to engage the rear of the forward latch member with the abutment guide portion 35 of the rear latch member, and forces the rear latch member rearwardly against the tension of its spring 4|, thus releasing the catch member 3| from engagement withthe rear latch finger 31, whereupon the cover 24 opens up as indicated in Fig. 7. Pressure of the forward latch member normally keeps the pressure plate up.

It is thus evident that the novel construction first releases one catch and then releases the second catch, these releases being effected merely by pressing the pressure plate downwardly, this pressure plate not having any projections and being substantially flush with the forward face of the intermediate plate. The user may therefore operate the releasing mechanism to release the outer cover alone or to first release the outer cover and then release the inner cover, without using both hands and without removing gloves, if worn.

While the above construction has been described as specifically applied to a vanity case, it is obvious that desired changes in the arrangement of the parts and in their relative functioning may be made, to meet the requirements for particular containers. Thus, when applying the novel invention to a change purse, one compartment may be utilized for small changeand a second compartment may be utilized for bills or the like; if desired, a secondary lock of standard construction may be employed for positively retaining the second compartment against accidental opening. Moreover, certain embodiments may require different operating arrangements; thus a cigarette case may utilize the initial movement of the pressure plate to open the cigarette container and the subsequent movement to operate. a cigarette lighter mechanism.

While I have described a specific embodiment as applied to a vanity case, and illustrative changes suitable for other containers, it is obvious that other changes in arrangement and in function. may be obtained by suitably arranging the operating parts, without however departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a container construction, a case, a plurality of compartments in said case having covers, catch members on said covers, movable latch members normally engageable with said catch members, a manually movable pressure element mounted in said case, and means for moving one latch member to release its catch member upon initial movement of said pressure element, and for moving said latch member to engage and move a second latch member to release its catch member on subsequent movement of said pressure element.

JAMES BUCKLEY.

Gil 

